Love Fruit Orchard (Yuanli Township Farmers' Association) Introduction
In Europe, tomatoes are referred to as "LOVE APPLE" because the mature tomato flowers bloom in pairs, connected together in a bright red, resembling a couple, hence the title "love fruit." The greenhouse here primarily cultivates these love fruits, so it has been named "Love Fruit Orchard." It is hoped that this romantic name will help create a romantic atmosphere and memorable experiences for visitors during the orchard's promotion. The greenhouse design for Love Fruit Orchard has been specifically selected from many greenhouse types. Considering the seasonal variations in Taiwan, traditional greenhouses tend to accumulate heat during the summer, which can hinder the fruiting of indoor crops, especially tomatoes. Therefore, when selecting the greenhouse structure, we sought designs that facilitate cooling and heat dissipation. Consequently, we chose a retractable roof structure, where the entire plastic cover can be rolled up to the center beneath a lookout tower. When the roof is rolled up, only a fine mesh remains, preventing heat buildup indoors. As a result, the temperature difference between the inside and outside is about two degrees, and with the installation of exhaust fans, if the internal heat circulation is poor, the fans quickly help control the temperature. At the initial design of Love Fruit Orchard, we implemented greenhouse cultivation for the first time, with aspirations to adhere to organic farming principles. However, we realized that while the greenhouse environment could eliminate many pests, it could not prevent the occurrence of toxic diseases, leading to considerable losses during the early cultivation stages. Fortunately, our advisor, Zheng Nianjun, put in a lot of effort in this area, continuously visiting and learning about greenhouse planting techniques to enhance the cultivation experience at Love Fruit Orchard. I still remember that the first year of operating the orchard was very challenging; technical skills were lacking, and I faced skepticism from colleagues while also having to endure accusations from representatives regarding the establishment of this unprofitable venture — it was truly adding insult to injury. Fortunately, as of today, Love Fruit Orchard has become profitable enough to sustain its operations, and the many years of hard work have finally yielded some achievements. Currently, the marketing of Love Fruit Orchard products includes not only tourism fruit-picking but also partnerships with several organic health stores, supplying organic products to the stores in Taichung and surrounding areas. During the harvest period, no pesticides are applied in the orchard. Additionally, the romantic name of "Love Fruit Orchard" and the refreshing fruit-picking experience have already made it one of the most well-known representatives of leisure agriculture in central Taiwan, perfect for group outings and family activities across generations. The greenhouse cultivation and fruit-picking experience at Love Fruit Orchard have also become an ideal place for many kindergartens and elementary schools for agricultural field trips. We welcome everyone to come and experience it for themselves!
